Japan’s Most Famous Curry Shop Sets Summer Opening

Eager Eater readers have been asking for updates on the arrival of CoCo Ichibanya in San Diego. Japan’s most beloved curry chain, operating more than 1,400 locations worldwide, was due to land next month in Kearny Mesa in the Convoy Street center that also houses Hive and Chinese eatery Kangxi Is Coming.

The company tells us that the opening has now been delayed until mid-summer. Established in 1978 in Japan, the brand expanded to the U.S. in 2011; the San Diego outpost is the first outside of the Los Angeles area.

CoCo Ichibanya specializes in kare raisu, or curry rice, offering diners fully customizable plates based on different portion sizes of rice, curry sauce spice level, and toppings that range from chicken cutlet and sausages to fried squid and vegetable croquettes.